The main focus of this diploma was focused on studying adhesion in inkjet printing with UV (ultraviolet)-curable inks. The purpose of diploma is to explore which surface pretreatment is most suitable for achieving good adhesion on different materials. Good adhesion of printing inks is essential for achieving high-quality and durable prints. Adhesion issues can lead to material losses, which is why printers pay special attention to the properties of the substrate.
The biggest chalenge is presented by smooth and low-energy surfaces, such as plexiglass and polimeric materials, where poor wettability leads to insufficient ink adhesion. To enhance adhesion, various pretreatment methods are used, including plasma treatment, corona treatment, primers … On the other hand, wood and PLA (polyalactic acid) have rougher structure, which allows better ink anchoring and fewer issues with durability.
In addition to texture, the surface energy of the material is also important – the higher it is, the better the wettability and, consequently, the bondong of the ink. Understanding these physical properties enables printers to optimize processes and reduce production losses.
Various surface pretreatment methods were used in the study, including coating, sanding, treatment with alcohol, solvent, corona treatment, additional exposure to UV light after printing and different UV light intensity during printing. These methodt were applied to the following materials: PLA, wood, plexiglass and foil.
The research showed that PLA was suitable for printing without pretreatment, while the best pretreatment for wood and plexiglass was solvent, and for foil, is coating. After the research, printing was performed on objects made from different materials, each pretreated using the method that proved to be the most affective for its specific substrate.
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